People Cabinet Member – Minutes – 13 November 2013

105 (34) EDUCATION STRATEGY – SCHOOLS – The Director of People submitted a report which sought approval to adopt and publish the North Lincolnshire Education Strategy for Schools.

The education system was undergoing systemic change and North Lincolnshire Council had a crucial role in ensuring that the needs, aspirations and potential of children and young people were fulfilled.

North Lincolnshire had strengths to build on, particularly in the high level of engagement that children had in education at all ages and the quality of care that they received. Despite this evidence of improvement in the quality of learning provision; across North Lincolnshire as a whole, education outcomes needed to improve faster if they were to catch up and overtake national averages.

The Education Strategy – Schools had been informed by consultation with young people, headteachers, school governors and the public.

It was anticipated that this would make a positive impact on employment in North Lincolnshire by promoting skills development and participation in life-long learning, and the higher prevalence of good and outstanding schools over time would support the continued regeneration of the local area, encouraging inward investment.

Resolved – That the Education Strategy – Schools be approved, adopted and published.

106 (35) SCHOOLS FUNDING FORMULA 2014-15 – The Director of People submitted a report to update the Cabinet Member with regards to the feedback from Schools Forum and individual schools in respect of consultation on the proposed funding formula changes, and sought approval of the factors to be used for calculating the funding formula shares for mainstream schools in North Lincolnshire 2014-15.

The Department for Education (DFE) introduced new arrangements for how schools and academies were funded with effect from 1 April 2013. The DFE had reviewed these arrangements using consultation feedback from stakeholders and in June 2013 issued revised guidance for 2014-15.

The School Funding Reforms set out how local authorities calculated individual school and academy budget shares using a range of mandatory and optional formula factors.

This report outlined the changes that had been introduced and set out the proposals for the North Lincolnshire schools funding formula 2014-15.

Resolved – (a) That the proposed formula factors to be used to calculate the individual schools budget shares for mainstream schools within North Lincolnshire 2014-15 be approved, and (b) that the units to be applied to each factor would be confirmed in January 2014, once the allocation of Dedicated Schools Grant had been made to North Lincolnshire.

107 (36) THE REVIEW OF THE NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL PLACEMENT SUFFICIENCY STRATEGY 2011-2013 AND THE REVISED STRATEGY FOR 2013-2015 – The Director of People submitted a reportto inform the cabinet member of the review and revised Sufficiency Strategy for Children in Care and Care Leavers 2013-2015.

The Placement Sufficiency Strategy was a legislative requirement, the council having to have in place a ‘sufficiency’ strategy that detailed how the council would provide sufficient accommodation to meet the needs of looked after children or who were assessed as requiring on-going support to live independently.

The strategy set out the strategic intentions of services in fulfilling the council’s sufficiency duty contained within section 22 of the Children Act 1989 and formed an integral part of the Children in Care and Care Leavers Strategy.

Further details of the proposals were outlined within the report and also the strategy documents appended to the report.

Resolved – That the positive review of Placement Sufficiency 2013/14 and the future strategy be welcomed and supported.

108 (37) REVIEW OF THE CHILDREN IN CARE AND CARE LEAVERS STRATEGY 2011-2013 AND FUTURE STRATEGY 2013-2015 – The Director of People submitted a report to inform the cabinet member of the review and revised Children in Care and Care Leavers Strategy 2013-15.

The Children in Care and Care Leavers Strategy set out how the Council, and as a partnership, it would work to achieve shared ambitions for children and young people in care. The strategy detailed the support and plans to enable children in care and care leavers to achieve positive outcomes. It outlined the priority actions for 2013/14 and underpinned the work with children in care and care leavers to enable them to live in stable, safe placements, enabled them to realise their aspirations and continue to achieve success.

The Children in Care and Care Leavers Strategy had been reviewed and updated, it reflected on the achievements of the previous two years and the actions for 2013-15.

Further details of the proposals were outlined within the report and also the strategy documents appended to the report.

Resolved – (a) That the positive review of the strategies be welcomed, and (b) that the revised Children in Care and Care Leavers Strategy 2013-2015 be supported

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